Commentary: The Spinal Cord Has an Intrinsic System for the Control of pH

Most physiological processes are sensitive to pH (i.e., hydrogen ion activity) and regulation of pH within tissues and body fluids represents a fundamental homeostatic process in living organisms. At the organismal level, acid-base balance is achieved by fast respiratory modulations of the partial pressure of CO2 in combination with slower transepithelial ion movements to accommodate excretion and retention of bicarbonate and protons in response to acid-base disturbances. At the cellular and subcellular levels, acid-base balance is achieved by ion exchange.